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It's difficult to imagine a film ending with a double homicide as uplifting, but "Milk" is exactly that.

No, it isn't a spoiler to say that San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and Mayor George Moscone (Victor Garber) were murdered on Nov. 27, 1978, by former supervisor Dan White (Josh Brolin). For West Coast residents, the events are common knowledge, and director Gus Van Sant structures his film with that in mind. Although "Milk" chronicles Harvey Milk's rise as a gay activist and one of the first openly gay politicians elected to public office, the timeline is fractured and acknowledges the murders at the outset. The movie is also peppered with a Penn voiceover meant to reflect the politician's mindset shortly before his assassination.

But uplifting? Absolutely.

Despite the unsavory ending, "Milk" is in many ways a feel-good film. That's because it's about a man who fought to better the lives of the disenfranchised -- both gay and straight -- at personal expense. Look around the world today and tell me we couldn't use more men and women like that.

Harvey Milk could not have known that his life would end tragically, but he certainly knew that placing himself in the political spotlight would irrevocably alter his personal life and make him a target for bigots. Nevertheless, he charged forward fighting for the rights not only of gay Californians but of women and union workers.

Need one subscribe to Milk's politics to enjoy the film? It wouldn't hurt, but it's not a prerequisite. "Milk" does spend time looking at the man's political battles, but it is also a deeply personal tale that examines his relationships with lovers Scott Smith (James Franco) and Jack Lira (Diego Luna). And it addresses his mentorship of later gay rights leaders including Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch).

It's easy to relate "Milk" to "Brokeback Mountain," the last prominent film to place gay issues in the spotlight, but the movies are nothing alike. While "Brokeback" considered the hardships of closeted gay males, "Milk" celebrates the achievements of a man who embraced and publicized his differences. It also demonstrates that the general public is willing to accept diversity in leadership as long as said leaders keep the channels of communication open.

Beyond this, the movie is exceptionally well made. Director Gus Van Sant tells his story with precision, pacing it perfectly and treading a fine line between entertainment and historical accuracy. What's more, the performances are brilliant.

Leading the way is Sean Penn, whose take on Milk is transformative. "Oscar-worthy" is used too often, but in this case it will be surprising if Penn is not given a best actor nomination. While not an Oscar lock, Brolin has also had his name bandied about for his spot-on portrayal of Dan White. And, for what it's worth, he deserves to be in the supporting actor field.

Hirsch, Franco, Luna and the remaining cast are also terrific, but it's Penn and Brolin who steal the film. And that's OK. The film is, after all, called "Milk."